Philippines Aircraft Descended to Chinese Helicopter Altitude: Chinese PLA

A Philippine C-208 aircraft descended by 920 meters in 218 seconds on February 18 near China's Huangyan Dao, deliberately bringing it close to the altitude of a Chinese helicopter on patrol, an action that could have led to an unintended aerial incident.

The event occurred amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed territories in the South China Sea. Earlier, the Philippine Ministry of Defense accused a Chinese helicopter of coming within 10 meters of its aircraft.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command reported that on Tuesday and Thursday, Philippine aircraft intruded into the airspace of China’s Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao. The PLA monitored, warned, and expelled them, according to spokesperson Tian Junli.

Tian accused the Philippines of attempting to distort facts and provoke incidents to justify territorial claims, stating that such actions were "doomed to fail." He said PLA forces remain on high alert to safeguard sovereignty and regional stability.

On February 18, the Philippines alleged that a Chinese Navy helicopter flew within three meters of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). The Philippine Coast Guard described the maneuver as dangerous and a violation of aviation regulations. The Filipino pilot reportedly issued a radio warning to the Chinese aircraft.

These encounters reflect ongoing disputes over maritime rights in the South China Sea, where both nations continue to assert competing territorial claims.